Socio-economic conditions of the black mine workers on the Orange Free State Goldfields, 1947-1957

Abstract

The commencement of mining activities on the Orange Free State Goldfields resulted in the influx of black migrants who came to work in these mines. Once on the mines, they found themselves working under deplorable social and economic conditions. This was in spite of attempts made by Ernest Oppenheimer to improve these conditions. Oppenheimer's efforts were frustrated by government legislation which was in place before 1947.